Well, dear readers, there is a fifth dimension, and no, we don’t call it The Twilight Zone, we call it The Fifth Dimension, one of the greatest groups who ever recorded during the classic era. In a six-year period between 1967 and 1973 they had twenty top forty hits on the Billboard chart, including several in the top five. And yes, I am listening to them as I sit here like so much fish – greatest hits like Stoned Soul Picnic, Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All, One Less Bell to Answer, Wedding Bell Blues, Up, Up and Away – amazing production value and arrangements/orchestrations. Great harmonies and lead vocals, especially Marilyn McCoo. This is music that makes you smile, at least it’s making ME smile and after a big nothing burger of a day, I’ll take all the smiles I can get. I did watch several parts of a couple of movies. The one I got through was entitled Rush Hour, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, a cut-and-paste buddy cop fish out of water movie with not a single original thing in it except Mr. Chan. Horribly written, certainly not helped by the direction of a Brett Ratner. I was sure I’d seen it, but not a single scene in it seemed familiar. The “comedy” is terrible and pops up at completely inappropriate moments and the filmmakers so think they’ve got that Eddie Murphy magic going but I have to say it plainly – Chris Tucker is not Eddie Murphy – he is, in fact, completely obnoxious as a character, you can’t understand half of what he’s saying and when you CAN understand it you wish you hadn’t. And yet – it was a big hit and spawned two sequels that you couldn’t pay me to watch. The one saving grace is Mr. Chan himself – he’s fun and charming and his doing his own stunts is legendary for good reason – there just aren’t enough of them in this film. The plot is tiresome and it’s all a big who cares.
Then I watched a movie entitled Police Story, starring Mr. Chan in what would become a successful series of Hong Kong pictures. Chan directed and starred and devised the action sequences. I slept through some of the first hour because it’s a lot of comedy stuff that isn’t so funny but there’s no sleeping through the last half, with incredible stunts and action that take the breath away. Of course, some of those stunts sent Mr. Chan to the hospital, as have many of his stunts – an amazing number of broken bones and injuries. Then I began some Japanese kaiju movie, one I don’t think I’d seen whose title escapes me at the moment, but about thirty seconds after the titles I went out like a light for the next hour. I woke up every now and then, hearing people speaking Japanese, which was surreal, to put it mildly or spicily.
Yesterday, as mentioned, was a big nothing burger of a day and evening. Up, Up and Away is where I wanted to go, rather than have annoyances. I got eight and a half hours of sleep, so that was good. I got up and was greeted with yet another obnoxious text, which I ignored, then caught up with stuff, had tuna sandwiches for food, found out that the Big Apple Film Festival will be screening episode one of Sami in a movie theater – really wish I could be there, but we’re hoping Sami will be there to represent us. I really want a dear reader to go, film it in real time so I can hear the reaction. That would be fun. I’ll let you know the date and see if that works for any of you. Then I got all the sheet music for Sami that we’ll be selling ready and got it where it needed to go. I then had a nice conversation with Venmo, which is how payment will happen. Their fees are MUCH less than PayPal. And that was pretty much the day.
Then I watched and napped and napped and watched and then I had a late-night burger from Fat Sal’s – 40% off plus a coupon code for an additional 5.00 off if you order late-night after ten. So, it was five dollars cheaper than if I’d driven over there and picked it up. Burger was good. Then it was time to write these here notes in the fifth dimension. Now playing is Living Together, Growing Together. And now, Day by Day.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’m still waiting for the hardcover to arrive, we’ll do some Sami stuff and try to get the sheet music page up and working. I’ll check with the mail place to see what’s what or I may just go over there if I decide I want Popeye’s for food, which I may. Then at some point, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same, we’re having another casting session on Saturday, and then I have no idea what else is happening.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, hope for news of the hardcover, hope for a little miracle that’s desperately needed, do Sami stuff, try to get the sheet music page up and running, check with the mail place, eat, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Twilight Zone episodes and what are your favorite Fifth Dimension songs? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have spent a little time in the Fifth Dimension.